Beyond Basics Annual Dinner 2025

Beyond Basics, the Farmington Hills-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to eradicate illiteracy, hosted its Annual Dinner on March 14 at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. It honored leaders from the sports, private education, and public sectors who have empowered students through literacy and helped them achieve reading proficiency. They included Claude Molinari, president and CEO, Visit Detroit and Detroit Sports Commission; Steven K. Hamp, Detroit Lions; Brian Broderick, executive director of MANS; DeLois Spryszak, principal of Gesu Catholic School; Kristina Martinez-Precious, principal of San Juan Diego Academy; Madiha Tariq, MPH, deputy Oakland County executive; Hon. Namita Sharma, 9th Circuit Court Family Division presiding judge; Barbara Hankey, director of public services for Oakland County; and Laura Draper, principal of the Kalamazoo RESA Intensive Learning Center. The event featured cocktails and networking followed by dinner and an awards program. The presenting sponsor was Discount Tire. Additional sponsors included Globe Midwest Adjusters International, The Torgow Family, Farbman Group. Healthrise, Mass Mutual, Hour Media, and others. // Photographs by Patrick Gloria